Page 14 of New Tradition

Would Samuel spank her for borrowing a phone? She wasn’t sure, but she put on a brave front and said, “Oh hush, Dakota. I’m a grown woman. I’ll take the punishment if he catches me.” But dear God she hoped he didn’t catch her.

While the other women talked, Erin slipped into the corner and started making her phone calls. First, she called the majority leader’s secretary and made sure Trinity was on the list. Then she scrolled to Trinity’s name and pressed call.

“Who is this?” Trinity asked, instead of saying hello

“It’s Erin. I had to borrow a phone. I’ve got like ten minutes max to talk so listen carefully,” she said.

Trinity laughed. “You’re supposed to be on vacation. I’ve got this. I have a file on everyone in congress, both the senate and the house. I have access to your laptop too. I can get any information I need. The only thing I need to know is who you want me to avoid and who you want me to talk to.”

She closed her eyes. God bless Trinity. She launched into the list of people she wanted Trinity to listen for and the kinds of information she should try to remember. As they chatted, she felt Samuel approach and closed her eyes.

She flashed him a sheepish smile after he tapped her on the shoulder and folded his arms across his chest.

“I think you’re going to be great, Trin. Thanks for doing this for me. I gotta go.”

When Samuel held out his hand for the phone, she didn’t try to resist, just set it in his palm. He held it in one hand and draped an arm around her with the other.

“Come on. We clearly need to spend some time together.”

As they walked past the bar, Marissa called out, “Can I have my phone back?”

Samuel turned his head toward the girl and said, “I’ll give it to Lance, you can ask him for it.”

“Oh Samuel, that’s mean,” Erin said as he shoved Marissa’s phone into his pocket.

“Is it? She was told not to help you get in trouble, and she did it, anyway. She can take it up with Lance.”

Erin sighed. He was right. “So how much trouble am I in?”

“We’ll talk about it upstairs.” He paused at the conference room door and pushed it open. Elijah, Patrick, Hunter, Lance, and Garrett all sat around the table. The only two missing were Matthew and Russell.

He pulled Marissa’s phone out of his pocket and handed it to Lance. “Pretty sure she’ll come begging for this pretty soon. Excuse us, we’re going upstairs. We’ll touch base soon.”

Lance took the phone with a wicked smirk on his face and began tapping the screen. Erin suddenly felt bad for getting the girl in trouble.

“I’m sorry, Sir,” she whispered as he led her toward the stairs.

He didn’t say anything, just kept his arm around her as they walked.

In the room, he kissed her cheek and stepped away from her. She watched, tense as he rolled up his shirt sleeves, cuffing them just below his elbow. He leaned against the desk that sat in one corner of the room, reaching back to rest his hands on the edge.

“Before we talk, I came to get you because your boss called.” He held up a hand and narrowed his gaze at her when she opened her mouth. “She called me after you didn’t answer your phone. It wasn’t an emergency. She just wanted to let you know she’s flying back to D.C. right now before the storm gets bad. Told us to enjoy our vacation.”

“Maybe we should fly home too.” Erin said, then closed her eyes. “God, I keep doing that. Forget I said anything. I’m glad we’re here together.”

Samuel smiled and crooked a finger, motioning her to come to him.

When she did, he stood up straight and put his hands on her hips. “You’re thinking about it and are conscious of when you do that. I think that’s a good sign. It means you’re actively trying to improve. I need to do the same. I’m acting like I didn’t just come out of a job that demanded my attentions to be split and I’m asking you to show me a courtesy that I probably didn’t show enough people when I was in that position. I’m sorry about that.”

This was the last thing she’d expected from Samuel. A scolding? Yes. A spanking? It wouldn’t surprise her. But an apology? It never even crossed her mind. And of course, his thoughtful nature was making her feel even more unworthy of his love.

She dropped to her knees in that moment and whispered. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”

He crouched next to her and caressed her face. “What do you say we both accept each other’s apologies and move on?”

“I say that sounds like a good idea, Sir.”

He watched her carefully for a moment. “But you’re still feeling bad.”

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